Coin-actuated liquid-vending machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. S. VAN SANT & E. G. EAMES. COIN AGTUATED LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

No. 441,861. Patented Dec. 2,1890.

FIG a (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

W. S. VAN SANT 81; E. O. EAMES. 00m AOTUATED LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

No. 441,861. Patented Dec. 2,1890.

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0 i 5 1 Q i L I? \B 1, ,2 Z"; v 41' L a w (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. S. VAN SANT & E. C. EAMES.

00m AGTUATED LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WlLLIAiI SHERMAN VAN SANT AND 'EDMO ND CURTIS EAMES, OF DIXON,

- CALIFORNIA.

COI N-ACTUATED LIQUID-VENDING MACH lNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,861, dated December 2, 1890. Application filed June 24, 1890. Serial No. 368,544. "No model.)

4o said chambers may be seen.

To all whom it may concern:

Bait known that we, WILLIAM SHERMAN VAN SANT and EDMOND CURTIS EAMES, citizens of the, United States, residing at Dixon,

5 Solano county,- State of California, have invented an Improvement in Coin-Actuated Liquid-Vending Machines; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

[0 Our invention relates generally to the class of machines adapted to deliver an article upon the deposit of a suitable coin.

Our invention consists in the machine. of this class which is hereinafter fully described,

.15 and its novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement specifically pointed out in the claim...

The object of our invention is to provide a machine containing one or more beverages, a

20 tumblerful of any one of which will be. delivered to the customer upon the deposit by him of the proper coin,

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more, complete explanation of our in- 2 5 vention, Figural is a perspectiveview otour machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical *section on line '3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view showing the circuits and connected part-s.

; o A is the case or box which forms the frame of the'machine. This is divided by a horizontal partition B into a top chamber a, below which is a second chamber-a, having a 'floorb, under which is a third compartment 35 01' chamber a whichis divided from the low- 5 chamber 'a are the liquid-vessels D in. any

' suitable number, according to the different liquids or be\"erages which themachine is adapted to "vend. For convenience, we have here shown but two, one of which may be sup- 5o posed to contain one form'of beveragesuch,

for example, as lem0nade-and the other a different beverage-as, for example, soda-water. -These vessels D may be in any-suital'ile shape. (l-lere shown as havingsomewhat the shape of bottles or demijohns inverted.)

Communicating with their bases and ex tending downwardly into the chamber a are the (lischargepipes (Z, by which the liquids from said vessels are conveyed downwardly,

and also extending downwardly from the bases of said vessels are air-pipes d, the lower ends of which terminate short of the lower ends-of the pipes (Z.

Within the ohambera'are the tilting measuring-cups E, into which the discharge-pipes d extend, reaching well downwithin said cups. The air-pipes d also extend down into said cups, their lower ends terminating at the'level to which it is desired to fill the cups. It will now be seen that the liquid from vessels D will pass down into the measuring-cups and .rise within said cups to. just above the level of the lower ends of the air-tubes c7, and the air being thus cut off, the liquid will remain at this levelin said cups, and when the cups are emptied will again flow down and rise to this level. There is, therefore, always in said cups a measure of liquid ready to be dis charged. The measuring-cups are supported upon the outer ends of arms F, which'are pivoted at f in the tops of standards j, said standards being vcrticall y adjustable in bearings f and set in position by sctscrews f and by the adjustment otthcse standards the position of the ineasuringcups with relation to the pipes (l and d is regulated.

Adjustable weights \V are tit-ted upon the outer ends of the arms F, and serve as counter-balances. The arms are held horizontally to hold the measuring-cups in post tion by means of a. catch hereinafter described. The measuring-cups E lie within the upper ends of the funnels G, the necks g of which extend downwardly through the floor-h, as shown.

Within thecompartnient (I, and extending dowmvardly into the base of the box are casingsli, in the lower portions of which are springs It. Upon these springs are mounted the series of tumble-rs I, the upper tumblers blers is raised by the spring, so that afresh.

that the hand be passed through said openings into thescasings H,.a nd the npper most tumbler removed r The operation of these parts; is as follows. Within the compartment a placed suit- .ably a body of ice'J, and thepartition B is provided with apertures I), thus effecting a communication between thechambers-a and a, whereby the air within saidchambers and the beverages are kept cool. As before a portion of the liquid is within the meaSnr lug-cup. Now upon releasing th'aiarm F the cup will tilt about the pivotal center f and discharge its contents into the funnel G, and

the funnel into the uppermost tumbler, and will sufliciently fill said tumbler, this being regulated by the capacity of the measuringcup. The uppermost tumbler being now removed by the customer, the series of tumtumbler is ready to receive the next measure of liquid. The seriesof tumblers is held in place by means of a stop'i, against which the uppermost tumbler comes in contact. In the upper portion of the box or case is the slot K, through which the proper coin is to .be inserted. From this slot extends inwardly a coinpassage k, the inner end of which is' just above a tilting coin-tray L, which receives the coin from said passage. The coinpassage is a flattened partial .tube receiving the coin edgewise, so thatsaid coin will readily run down. This tray is on the outer end of a lever Z, which is pivoted to a suitable standard at l, and hasa weight \V upon its rear end, whereby the tilting tray is held up normally to receive the coin. The weightW is just suflicient to hold the tray inthis position when there is no coin upon it; but when a coin drops upon the tray the weight is overcome and the lever Zrocks. Within the base of the case is an electric battery'M. \Vithin compartment or chamber a are electroma nets N, each having a pivoted armature n,

controlled by a spring 71, and having its up-' per end formed-with acatch n*,"which engages the outer end of the arm F, thereby holding said arm horizontally and holding the'cup which said arm carries. The spring n holds the catch normally to its engagement with the arm F. There is one of these electro-magnets and one armature-catch for each arm F. Suitable circuit-wires pass from the battery,'an d include the electro-magnets. Now, when the circuit is closed, the electro magnet being energized, attracts its armature, thereby releasing the catch n from the arm F, and allow ing the cup by th'e'w'eight. of its contentsto tilt and the weight W returns it to position and another portion of liquid descends automatthe liquid will run down, through the neck of a discharge its liquid. \Vhen emptied,-

ically from-the vessel 1) above into the cup. The circuit being now open the armature is not attracted by the magnet, and its spring throws the catch n back again to its engage ment with the'arm F, whereby the cup is new. The circuit is closed and opened by electrode 0 on the vibrating lever l and electrodefoa- These are normally separate, but

whenthe' coin-tray is depressed by the weight of the coin" the electrode 0 comes into contact ith electrode ,0, thereby closing the circuit.

The coin' ifs-discharged by the tilting of the tray L into. a suitable receptacle P, and thereupon the weight W returns the tray and opens the circuit at 0 0. Now where the machine contains different beverages it is necessary to provide means whereby the purchaser may obtain the one he desires. This is done by providing a switch or key-board to throw any one, of the electro-magn'ets into or cut it out of the circuit. This we have shown at Q, which is a key-board having suitable independent contacts, and a removable key q, adapted to be inserted in the board and to close. the proper electro-magnet circuit. 'Ifhus.

one or theother of the'circuits is closed, and

the'particular magnet of that circuitis thereby operated to trip the catch and allow the proper measuring-cupto tilt and deliver the liquid chosen.

In order to avoid the use of any piece-of metal as a key, we let our key q into the circult by attaching it to a wire or preferably afiexible steel tape q, Fig. 4, which forms part of the circuit.

R is a drip-pan to catch any waste there may be.

Having thus described our invention, what we claimas new, and desire to secure by Let-. ters Patent, is-- 1. In a coin-actuated liquid-vending machine, the combination of a liquid-vessel, a tilting measuring-cup below adapted'to receive the liquid from said vessel, a dischargefunnel to receive't-he contents of the cup, and

a coin-actuated catch, for holding and trip-- ing the liquid from said vessel, a dischargefunnel into which the liquid is delivered from the cup, a catch for holding and releasingthe cup, an electric circuit and connections for operating the catch, and a circuit closer and opener operated by a deposited coin, substantially as. herein described.

'4. Inc coin-actuated liquid-vending mathe liquid-vessel-and adapted to receive the opener operated by the deposited coin, anda of the catches, whereby any one of the measchine, the combination of the liquid-vessel jnelwhich receives theliquid from the tiltas. herein described.

by the deposited -coin,substaritially as herein chine, the eombinafiion'ot a liquid-vessel above, a tilting measu ring-cup connected wit-h liquid therefrom, a. discharge-funnel forremaking the liquid from the tiltingcu'p, atumbier-casing into which the neck of the discharge-funnel extends, whereby its contents are delivered to the tumbler, a catch for holding and tripping the tilting vmeasuring-cup, an electric circuit and connections for operating the catch, and a circuit closer'a'nd opener operated by the deposited coin, sub-'. stantially as herein described. I 5. In a coin-actuated liquid-vending (niachine, the combination of separate liquidcoutaining vessels, tilting measuring-cups below and connected one with'cach-vessel, a discharge-funnel for'each cup receiving the liquid therefrom, independent catches for holding and tripping the cups, electric circuits and separate connections for operating each catch independently, acircuit closer and key-board or switch for opening and closing the circuits independently to atfect any one uring-cups may be tripped, substantially as herein described.

6. In-.,a coin'actuat-ed liquid-vending niaabove, the tilting. measuring-cup below, the automatic connect-ion between the vessel and cup, consisting of the downwardly-extending liquid-pipe and air-pipe, the dischargefuw ing-cup, a catch for controlling said cup, an electric circuit and'connections for operating the catch, and a circuit closer and opener operated by the deposited coin, substantially -7. In' a coin-actuated liquid-veiuling'lnachine, the combination of a liquid-vessel, a tilting measuring-cup 'below communicating therewith, and a discharge-funnel to receive the liquid from said cup, the pivoted counterbalanced arm upon which said cup is mounted, the electro-magnet and the armature-0t said magnet having the catch engaging the arm of the cup, an electric circuit including the magnet, and a circuit closer and opener operated described. I v

8. In a coin-actuated liquid-vending machine,the liquid-vessel, the tilting measuringcup below connected therewith, and the discharge-funnel into which the measuring-cup delivers its contents, in combination with an electrically-operated catch for holding and tripping the measuring-cup, and the c rcuit closer and opener consisting of the coin-refceivingtray L, the pivoted counterbalanced lever l, and the electrodes 0 and o of theelectric circuit, substantially as herein described.-

In a coin-actuated liquid-vending machine, the combination of the liquid-vessel, the tilting measuring cup below and connected therewith, the discharge-funnel for receiving the liquid from the measuring-cup, the pivoted counterbalanced arm carrying the measuring-cup,the armature having a catch engaging the arm, the electro-magnet affecting the armature, an electric circuit including the magnet, the vibrating coin-receiving tray L, the counterbalanced pivoted lever carrying the tray, and the electrodes 0 and 0 of the electric circuit, substantially as herein described. i

10, 'A coinactuated liquid-vending machine consisting of a box or case having a compartment a in its-top, a compartment to thereunder and communicating with the upper compartment, and a compartment (1. below, a liquid-vessel in the uppermost compartment, a tiltingmeasuring-cup in the compartment a, liquid and air pipes connecting She vessel above with the 111casuring-cup, whereby it is automatically supplied, a discharge-funnel into which the measuring-cup delivers'its contents, said funnel having a neck extending downwardly into the compartment a a casing fol-containing the tumblers below the discharge-neck of the funnel, and having a spring by which the series of tumblers is fed upwardly, an opening from the exterior into compartment a whereby the tumblers may be reached, the pivoted counterbalanced arm carrying the measuring cup, the electronnagnet having an armature with a. catch for holding and tripping the arm of the measuring'cup, an electric battery in the base of the case or box, an electric circuit including the electro -magnet, a coin-passage having a slot at its outer end, a tray for re ceiving the coin at the inner end of said passage, the vibrating counterbalanced lever carrying the tray, and the electrodes 0 and 0 of the 'clectriceircuit, substantially as herein described.

11. In a coin-actuated liquid-vending machine, the combination of separate liquid-vessels, a tilting measuring-cup for each vessel, a discharge-funnel for each cup, a catch for holding and tripping each cup, electric circults and conncctions for controlling each catch, a circuit closer and opener operated by the deposited coin, a key-board orswitch let into thecircuits and having independent contacts, and a removable key let into the circuits and adapted to close and open them independently. at the keyboard, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM SHERMAN VAX SAN-'1. EDMOND CURTIS EMIHS. Witnesses:

W. C. HALL, W. M. VAN SANT. 

